Head to Head Comparison: Aspen Aerogels (NYSE:ASPN) & International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF)

International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) and Aspen Aerogels (NYSE:ASPN) are both materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares International Flavors & Fragrances and Aspen Aerogels”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
International Flavors & Fragrances	$10.89 billion	2.12	-$361.00 million	$1.09	83.17
Aspen Aerogels	$271.10 million	1.59	-$389.55 million	($1.53)	-3.40

International Flavors & Fragrances has higher revenue and earnings than Aspen Aerogels. Aspen Aerogels is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than International Flavors & Fragrances, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

International Flavors & Fragrances has a beta of 0.91, meaning that its share price is 9% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Aspen Aerogels has a beta of 3.06, meaning that its share price is 206% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares International Flavors & Fragrances and Aspen Aerogels’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
International Flavors & Fragrances	2.78%	7.11%	3.96%
Aspen Aerogels	-62.45%	-31.12%	-17.33%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

96.0% of International Flavors & Fragrances shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 97.6% of Aspen Aerogels shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.1% of International Flavors & Fragrances shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 3.0% of Aspen Aerogels shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for International Flavors & Fragrances and Aspen Aerogels, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
International Flavors & Fragrances	0	7	12	0	2.63
Aspen Aerogels	2	1	4	0	2.29

International Flavors & Fragrances currently has a consensus price target of $93.22, indicating a potential upside of 2.83%. Aspen Aerogels has a consensus price target of $5.94, indicating a potential upside of 14.29%. Given Aspen Aerogels’ higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Aspen Aerogels is more favorable than International Flavors & Fragrances.

Summary

International Flavors & Fragrances beats Aspen Aerogels on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About International Flavors & Fragrances

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. engages in the manufacture and supply of flavors and fragrances used in the food, beverage, personal care, and household products industries. It operates through the following segments: Nourish, Health & Biosciences, Scent and Pharma Solutions. The Nourish segment consists of legacy Taste segment combined with N&B’s Food & Beverage division and the food protection business of N&B’s Health & Biosciences division. The Health & Biosciences business consists of a biotechnology-driven portfolio of enzymes, food cultures, probiotics and specialty ingredients for food, home and personal care, and health and wellness applications. The Scent business creates fragrance compounds, fragrance ingredients and cosmetic ingredients that are integral elements in the world’s finest perfumes and best-known household and personal care products. The Pharma Solutions business produces a vast portfolio including cellulosics and seaweed-based pharma excipients, used to improve the functionality and delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients, including controlled or modified drug release formulations, and enabling. The company was founded in 1833 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

About Aspen Aerogels

Aspen Aerogels, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aerogel insulation products primarily for use in the energy infrastructure and sustainable insulation materials markets in the United States, Asia, Canada, Europe, and Latin America. It operates in two segments, Energy Industrial and Thermal Barrier. The company offers PyroThin thermal barriers for use in lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage industries; Pyrogel XTE that reduces the risk of corrosion under insulation in energy infrastructure operating systems; and Pyrogel HPS for applications within the power generation market. It also offers Pyrogel XTF to provide protection against fire; Cryogel Z for sub-ambient and cryogenic applications in the energy infrastructure market; Spaceloft Subsea for use in pipe-in-pipe applications in offshore oil production; and Cryogel X201, which is used in designing cold systems, such as refrigerated appliances, cold storage equipment, and aerospace systems. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Northborough, Massachusetts.